and we had been a solar city customer. we put solar on our house two years ago and were able to do so with almost no out-of-pocket expense. and we have seen, you know, basically not a reduction in our energy bill, but flat on our energy bill, and we know that is from solar. so when i received a flier from solar city that announced the energy audits, i talked to my daughter and we decided that we would go and do that right away. so we replied and a requested the energy audit. we had a team of solar city people come into our house and go through the whole house, through the heating, you know, the windows, the drafting, how we used heating and stuff like that. and as a result of that audit, they designed a program for us that included ceiling cracks and weather stripping, reducing its draft from a fireplace by putting something in to block the draft. replacing in 1950's vintage heater that i had been told in the past was about 50% effective. they replaced it with a new height efficiency furnace, and in doing that, it also had

we've gone through the solar city contracts. we have gone through -- i cannot tell you how many dozens and dozens of hours of debate through the budget committee and board of supervisors and being with the understanding that this would yield green jobs. and i still don't think the city has come to scratching the surface of yielding jobs for disadvantaged communities. it's frankly underwhemming. so in this case what i read beyond the eight key points of this percent speck us to, same thing. i don't see it, i don't feel it. so i want to make sure that if we invest in this, that we're getting something that we absolutely need and they absolutely can deliver on so that it is a quality prict. not just to satisfy but poll dicks or the advocacy because i feel the same need. and if it's local hiring, i mean, then, it's double, i think the standard since this is not a local company. it's not fran-based. so i would expect -- san francisco-based. so i would expect there would have to be double the expectations that gives us something that

hi, i'm here with carl, he is the operations manager for solar city. we decided to take a little break from the cls room to so we could see some of the solar panels in action. carl, how are you? >> very well. nice to meet you. >> how do you like the weather? >> not too bad. >> kind of sunny. how does that impact our solar panels when we have lots of sun versus fog which we are typically accustomed to in san francisco? >> well, contrary to popular belief, solar panels will produce electricity when it's foggy out. how much depends on the density of the fog. on a day like today it's hazy for typical san francisco weather. on a day like talking, you can expect 80% of your what would be your full production on a clear sunny day. >> so if i were thinking about getting solar panels and i lived in san francisco and i was worried about haze versus full sun and how that will impact what jets yated, are there any tools or tricks that i can use to determine what the production is going to be like? >> the first thing you need to do is look at what available area do

we've gone through the solar city contracts. we have gone through -- i cannot tell you how many dozens and dozens of hours of debate through the budget committee and board of supervisors and being with the understanding that this would yield green jobs. and i still don't think the city has come to scratching the surface of yielding jobs for disadvantaged communities. it's frankly underwhemming. so in this case what i read beyond the eight key points of this percent speck us to, same thing. i don't see it, i don't feel it. so i want to make sure that if we invest in this, that we're

the city wants to install solar panels throughout palo alto and then have it as the main energy sourcestephanie chuang has more on how local businesses could benefit. >> reporter: the city of palo alto has set a goal to get at least one-third of its electricity from green sources by 2013. these solar panels off east bay shore road will cover the rooftops of local businesses. >> they will sell the power to the city when they generate it. >> reporter: the businesses would have to pay for the solar installation, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. but the program coordinator says it will pay off. >> it's an expensive installation but they can generally get tax credits from the federal government. >> reporter: she estimates the businesses will turn around and make about a quarter of a million dollars a year and the city will so save money buying the power at a fixed rate for 20 years. and supporters say the push to go green is just as important. >> it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality. >> we are always trying to be as green as possible. great idea. >> i

>> seems like the ultimate in green technology installing solar panels on your home's roof with let help from the state. solomon from union city wants to foe what is the california sole solar initiative? >> reporter: california has been going solar for 30 years but in the past two years things have heated up. >> in the last four years we have seen over 500-megawatts installed. 110-megawatts have been installed in 2011 only. >> reporter: ?oo all part of the california solar initiative. 2 tony 2 billion that has been set aside from rate payers to get you install solar on your home or business. they say the average home needs to generate 3-kilowatts in solar to be sel sufficient. >> you would get a rebate of 1750. >> that comes in a check? >> for an up front rebate. >> reporter: other cities and counties will kick in their own rebates. rebates for installing solar water heating. the goal to generate 3000 megawatts onto the grid by 2016. >> all of the kilowatts are added up and will hopefully bring us closer to 3000- megawatt goal. >> go to cbssf.com. click on "connect" to send me your good questions. >> the giants are going to ne

the city just approved a new plan that would allow small businesses with solar panels to sell electricityirectly to the city. they have to pay for their own solar installation which could hundreds of thousands of dollars in. but the city says it will pay off. >> it's appear expensive installation but they can generally get tax credits from the federal government. >> the city estimates that the businesses will make around a quarter of a million dollars a year. but supporters say the push to go green is just as important. the program is expected to start as early as next year. >> as long as we bring on the sunshine, right, roberta? >>> i'm looking at the stats. if you wanted a record high temperature in san jose for this date would you have to go back to when dana was a little girl in 1933. >> now it starts. >> actually that's when my mother was born. >> ah! >> yes. >> okay. >> don't talk about my mama. [ laughter ] >> that's off limits. this is going to get real ugly, nah-nah! dana is my sista! >>> on with the weather, roberta, before we get fired. >> you have there the clouds moving into

dropping regulations for residential solar panels many said were too expensive. in january the city decided to require homeowners to get a review of solar installations by fire inspectors and city bidd g building officials. santa rosa leaders decided to streamline the process. now homeowners just have to get plans reviewed once by a city inspector. >>> just in time for football season. most popular football video game of all time is here. scott budman has been playing with it all day long. haven't you, scott? >> don't i wish. tell you it is here. back three days ahead of the launch the bay area, got a copy of madden 12. top selling football game named after the coach. madden sold 90 million copies. a franchise for electronic arts. like all games these days this one lets you get social. and looks like your favorite nfl stars. these customers in union square. $40 to $60 depending on which console. san francisco about to get even more techie than usual. thanks to a giant tech conference. sales force.com kicks off dream force tonight. lots of key notes, demos, concerts by the likes of m

> seems like the ultimate in green technology installing solar panels on your home's roof with a little help from the state. solomon in union city wants to know what is this thing called the california solar initiative. it is tonight's good question california has been going solar for more than 30 years but in the past couple things have really heated up. >> i can tell you in the past 4 1/2 years throughout the life of the program we have seen over 500 meg awatts have been installed. >> 2.$2 billion that the state has set aside from rate pairs to get you to install solar on your house or business. the p.u.c. says the average home needs to generate about 3 to 5-kilowatts in solar to be sufficient. >> you would get a recent of up to 1,750. >> that just comes in a check? >> a check for an upfront rebate. >> a number will kick in their own rebates. low income families. multifamily homes. the goal is to again rate 3000 megawatts onto the grid by 2016. >> so all of the kilowatts are added up and will bring us closer to the 3000-megawatt goal. >> go to cbssf.com and click on connect to send me your good questions. >> well, just when yo

city right. almost every roof is equipped with solar cells.citizens are proud of their own brand of ecology. >> we have a tradition of conservative environmentalism. our state premier would probably never get elected in an alternative place like berlin. we have always been as concerned with the economy and medium- sized businesses as with traditional values. that is probably why we now head the state government. >> it does not seem like a place with many worries. from the prosperous south, we move to the former industrial heartland of the valley. there is not much a green here, and the town has clearly seen better days. the city center is run down and the buildings are in poor condition. many shops are empty. >> look at our streets. they never used to be like this. it is a joke. >> unemployment is high, and the local economy is stagnating. one of the last big employers is carmaker poel. -- opel. people cannot count on keeping their jobs. nobody will speak on camera about it. they say tv crews always show up when there is bad news. still, peopl

i hope we can hear from the city and from advocates about how we can use this new framework to install solar panels again and guide the energy-efficient work in a way to protect workers' standards on public-works while creating more jobs overall for our communities and partners in labor. thank you. the rest will submit. supervisor cohen: good afternoon, colleagues. early this morning, the city attorney and i hosted a press conference announcing legislation that i will be introducing with the support of several of you related to regulating false advertising by crisis pregnancy centers. the intent of this legislation is to prevent them from purposefully and knowingly making false or misleading statements about the pregnancy- related services they provide to the public. the focus of this legislation is on protecting the consumers rights of those seeking pregnancy-related services. as is the case with commercial advertisements, potential clients of crisis pregnancy centers have the right not to be misled by providers of pregnancy-related services. as a city, we have the duty to protect our most

city agencies to get honest feedback from honest stakeholders involved. this shows community involvement such as encouraging multicultural uses of the park, including the use of solar, energy and creating space for recycling and environmental conservation education. the project also addresses the city's continued need for affordable house and family-friendly neighborhood planning. our office is committed to supporting this effort. identifying key stakeholders and engaging in a community process. which includes their input. sincerely jane kim." thank you very much. president buell: thank you. >> there were additional supporters that had to go back to work but there are other people, i'm sure, that will speak on their behalf. thank you. president buell: thank you. commissioner lee had a question. commissioner lee: yes. i had a question on maintenance. when we heard this at capital you said there was a possibility that you could -- the maintenance costs were, what did you say, $40,000 annually? >> yes. commissioner lee: and you believe you could raise the -- to pay those funds with moneys raised from -- >> we have the first three years of maintenance funds in hand. it